Hu Visits Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan

China, Kazakhstan pledge to enhance co-op in trade

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-12 21:21

ASTANA - China and Kazakhstan vowed to further strengthen their cooperation in trade and economy in a joint communique issued here on Saturday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao met his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev here Saturday for talks on ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Special Coverage: SCO Summit Related readings:  Hu's visits aim to up ties with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan  China,Kazakhstan companies ink deal on hydropower station  China, Kazakhstan set to sign nuclear agreement  China's battle against riots benefits Kazakhstan

The two leaders applauded the timely and effective measures taken by the two governments to tackle the global financial crisis and agreed to optimize the structure of bilateral trade, improve investment environment and broaden their cooperation so as to raise the bilateral trade volume to its pre-crisis level or even higher levels.

They expressed satisfaction with the successful implementation of large-scale cooperation projects in energy, minerals, power and railway and pledged effective measures to protect the safety and legitimate rights and interests of each other's nationals and corporations to facilitate their pragmatic all-round cooperation and the implementation of major bilateral cooperation projects, the communique said.

The two leaders agreed to continue to implement a cooperation agreement in non-resource spheres signed in August 2007 and continue to enhance bilateral cooperation in machine-building, transport infrastructure, power plant construction, petrochemical, processing and pharmaceutical industries, as well as other fields.

The two countries will strengthen credit cooperation to ensure the implementation of these projects, the communique said.

The two sides pledged to ensure the construction as well as long-term and stable operation of major energy cooperation projects, including the China-Kazakhstan gas pipeline and the oil pipeline and further cooperate  in the utilization of renewable energies such as wind, solar energies on  the basis of equality and mutual benefit, said the communique.

The two sides also agreed to fully tap the potential in cross-border railway, road and air transport cooperation. Kazakhstan welcomes the involvement of Chinese companies in the construction of the bilateral and international transit corridor.

The two nations spoke highly of the completion and operation of the Horgos International Border Cooperation Center and agreed to facilitate cooperation between companies from both countries in the center. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the proper utilization and protection of the cross-border rivers, the communique said.

Hu flew into Astana on Friday from the Uzbek capital city of Tashkent, where he paid a state visit and attended a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.